Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-02-24

cldtScU as chicditOucs ctaycy,ct o"tsoSs
The carbonate OF line Is often in the
form of minute shells. whose structure
may be clearly seen by the aid oil a
magnifying glass. A very valuable
mari, known as green sand, 10 found
in many parts of New Jersey. 1t is
the result of accommodation OF rocks
containing lime aud silica. In portions
of Canada a whitish clayey mari 10
found which produces excellent results
when applied to land devoted to grass
or grain. The value of mari as fer
tilizer was known to the ancient Ro-
mans. 1t was also used by the ancient
Gauls and Brtons, though they prac-
tised very rude sort of husbandry
and made very little use of common
manure. In Germany, France and
Great Britain much attention has been
glen to mari. Specimens from all the
large deposits have been analysed in
order to ascertain their commercial
value. In many places where there are
good facilities for transportation it is
an article of commerce, and many
mari-beds are sources of wealth to
their owners.
That vast quantities of excellent
mari exists in various parts of the west
is altogether likely, though few at
tempts have been made to discover or
| utilize them. Mari is often found at
the bottom of peat or muck swamps,
and in ravines AMI other low places.
1t is generally found quite near the sur
| face being covered by some vegetable
formations. Sometimes there is moth
ing but a turf of grass over it. 1t is
ordinarily of slate or bluish-white
color. heavy, wet and somewhat spon-
gy. It's surface is sometimes blacken-
ed by the dark soil that rests upon 1t
or the humus that has been deposited
upon it. On exposure to the air on a
dry spot of land it parts with its mois-
ture and becomes a white crumbiy
mass, and quite light in weight. In
this'con lition it is easily spread over
the land. 1t is n common practice to
dig mari in the fall, to draw it to the
place where it is wanted, and to allow
il to remain in heaps like manure til
the following spring, when it is spread
over the green sward or plowed
land. If the land is hilly or sloping.
most of the mari is applied to the high
er portions, from which it will gradual
ly find its way to those that are lower.
On level land il should be uni
fornly spread all over the surface.
To distinguish the mari from whit
ish clay or sandy loan it is only nee
essary to pour any kind of acid on {
sample of it placed in n cup. If it il
mari it will effcrvesce like ordinar!
; limestone or carbonate of soda. Th'
. effervescence is caused by the escape o
, carbonic acid from the carbonate o
lime, of which the mari is largely com
: posed. II there is much etfervescenc
, the mari is considered rich; il there
: but title it is regarded as poor. TIL
! value of mari is generally rated by tn
: amount of carbonate OF lime 1t con
: tains. Shell mari generally contain
n small quantity of phosphoric acid
which is very valuable for producin
all kinds of crops, but is especial
valuable for increasing the yield c
y. grain. Mari produces excellent result
i, when applied as a top dressing to gras
!, lands, either pasture or meadow.
stimulates the growth of grass an
!, clover and causes them to kill OF
weeds and MOSES. 1t does not caus
grass and clover to grow rank us the
do when fresh dung is applied to til
!, soil, neither does it impart disagree
able flavor to them. Like other form
of lime, it corrects the acidity of sol
and improves the quality while it il
n creases the quantity of the most vail
v able plants. Grass on land that la
:, received one application of mari
Ie generally or q rich green color. swe
?, and thick.
p Mari should not be mixed with o
4 binary manure, as it is likely to dri'
N off the ammonia it contains. If mi
n ed with peat or muck, however, it pr
IL duces a good effect. Applied TO lar
1. under cultivation. it benefits the SC
- in two ways. 1t is Of physical adva
tage in rendering hard, clayey soils,
that it is more loose. SO they can
= more readily worked. Chemically
10 affords food to most plants, as Il
r. grains, grasses, and clovers, while
20 performs an important office in haste
es ing the decay of vegetable matter {
4 which plants feed. Cold and dan
10 soilsare greatly benefited by an app
or cation of mari 1t neutralizes &
40 acids found i'm humus and enables
m to produce valuable crops. An app
~. cation of mari to land produces
es immediate effect on the crop growi
h on it. It's beneficial influence also &C
90 tinues for many years. The more
n ten it is disturbed by the. pillow, cul
vator, or harrow the faster will it d
integrate and the more effectual "